Birds in your Neighborhood

Birds are everywhere and connect all of us in some way. Whether that is through song, culture, and the roles they play in our ecosystem, our feathered friends will find their way in our backyards.

How can you make your backyard more inviting for birds?

Add a Bird Bath: Like humans, birds and other wildlife need water, especially during hot summers and cold winters. Providing water will attract a variety of species to your yard. Clean your bird bath often to keep your birds healthy.

Plant Native Plants & Leave it Wild: When possible, leave a zone around your yard that is "no mow." Birds use these no mow zones as places to eat, build their nests and travel. Native plants also add, natural beauty, food, shelter and save you money around your home. Learn more here: Audubon Native Plants for Birds

Feed the Birds: You can supplement bird food sources with a variety of seed and/or fruit, with everything from sunflower seed, safflower, unsalted peanuts, nyjer and nectar. 

Leave Dead Snags: Dead snags provide needed cavity-dwelling spaces for a variety of birds including woodpeckers, owls, and ducks. Snags also create a space to raise young and provide food. As long as hollowed out tress don't pose a safety risk, leave them be.

Make Windows Bird Safe: With about 1 billion birds dieing from window strikes in the U.S. each year, there are simple things you can do, including placing transparent film (learn more here Bird Friendly Windows) , using dot patterns or "zen" curtains over your windows to protect birds.

Keep Cats Indoors: Keeping cats indoors can keep your cat healthier and prolong their life, while protecting birds. Cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds every year within the United States. Creative avenues like Catios, cat specific harnesses and backpack still give cats the opportunity to be outside while protecting birds Indoor Cats .